Rumor was they lived for a millennia before passing on to whatever upper realm of honor the high mages received—allegedly better than what shifters, vampires, or even the “regular” mages inherited. We lived over a century easily, so I wasn’t going to complain.Much.
One of the dudes had silvery-white hair like mine, except he was so wrinkled he might’ve had one foot out of this mortal realm already. The other four were younger, and their scary-as-hell eyes were probably lethal weapons.
Kaja nodded and dropped her voice so low I could barely hear: “My sister told me they possessallof the elemental affinities, but each of them is the master of one.”
I studied their colored silk cloaks. Orange for fire. Blue for water. Brown for earth. White for air.
But the old dude … he wore an iridescent silver robe. Was he like the king of them all? Or so old he was merely honorific? There were only four elements, sosomethingwas up with him.
“What about…” I pointed at the old mage. “…that guy? What’s his strongest element?”
Kaja shrugged. “I heard he can raise the dead.”
Raise the dead…?
Chills skittered over my skin, and I spun toward Kaja, my eyes wide.
“Are you serious?” I hissed.
Her expression gave no indication of humor, but I didn’t know her well enough to really have a read on her.
“Just do what they tell you, and you should be fine.”
“That’s not very reassuring,” I muttered.
My attention flitted past the five members of the High Mage Council to the armed soldiers standing behind each of them. Those guys were the epitome of badass—from their modern breastplate armor to the shiny and sharp weapons they carried. Killing machines. One for each. I was admiring their black tactical suits when my gaze fell on the high mage crest patch, and I gasped, realizing who the soldiers were.
“Are those their shields?” I stared at them with hero worship and tried to contain my excitement. Next to the alpha king, these wolf-shifters held the highest positions we could have.
Kaja nodded. “Pretty cool, huh? My second eldest sister is one.” My eyes landed on the fierce redheaded shield standing behind the old dude with her hand at the hilt of a blade.
So freaking cool. I wanted to call my dad just to tell him I’d finally seen one. The High Mage Council was so important that they each had a living person bound to protect them, a shield. The shield would absorb any injury inflicted on the high mage—even death, keeping the high mage alive.
The old mage gazed around the room almost as if he was looking for someone. I was about to ask Kaja another question when he approached the podium.
Blood rushed in my ears, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure the entire room could hear it. What or who was he looking for? Did he know I wasn’t supposed to be here until next year? He couldn’t know that … right?
I squirmed, remembering what Dad told me about the abilities of the High Mage Council—they could do just about anything. Mind reading was definitely in their capabilities … to what degree, I didn’t know.
The old high mage held no microphone, and yet his voice amplified so we could all hear. “Welcome to Alpha Island. As is customary, my brethren and I are here to host the elemental affinity ceremony.”
I glanced at the four other high mages, none of whom were looking at the old mage or the alpha heirs. One yawned, and another leaned over to say something to the high mage on his left. All four appeared bored at best. Clearly, we weren’t their favorite yearly obligation.
A woman, who I assumed was an elemental mage teacher, wheeled out a giant crystal cluster with jutting points of various widths, lengths, and colors. The entire room did a collective ahhh, including me, and we leaned forward.
As a wolf, I loved the earth, and something about natural crystals resonated deep within me. I had an entire row of pretty stones I’d collected over the years in Montana, but I’d never seen a crystal quite like this. The tips were clear quartz, but inside of the crystal where it was a single mass, colors swirled within—wisps of red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, and even black. Could such a piece naturally occur?
“The Affinity Stone was gifted to us by the Mother Mage herself. May she rest in peace.”
“May she rest in peace,” we coursed, giving honor to the woman who created our magical races. It was said she held a multitude of DNA strands within her magic, and she borrowed matter from the mortal realm to construct the first of dozens of magical races: mage, shifters of all kinds, and vampires. The Mother Mage, also known as the High Queen, was the “mother” to us all.
The old man’s voice grew reverent. “After the queen created the magical races, she grew weary and rested from her labors. All of her creations left, off to explore the magic lands and seek their fates. All but one. An alpha wolf shifter remained, her most loyal companion. After a century together, he became her mate, and she decided to honor him by bestowing their offspring with elemental magic. And so you were created. A spark of high mage power for those who lead their kindred, a reward for love and loyalty.”
I bowed my head in respect. Out of hundreds of Crescent Clan wolves, only Nolan, myself, and my father and aunt would bear any elemental magic, and it was all due to the Queen Mother’s love for the alpha wolf she spent her life with. It was a grand love story. It was said not even death parted them. The High Mage Council had since banned interracial breeding—like under penalty of death—but the High Queen’s love story showed just how powerful a race could be when combined.
The mage finished his story and cleared his throat. “Her final gift to the alpha heirs was the Affinity stone. Once we know your element, you’ll be matched with your mage master teacher.”
My gaze ran the length of the wall where a half dozen teachers stood. The elemental mage masters could make or break your education here. I didn’t know much, but I knew that. I needed to have a strong affinity and be assigned a powerful mage master. Someday, Nolan could challenge me.
